Fruit beer… St-Ambroise Apricot Wheat Ale

When I was in my early thirties, I became more curious about beers. That’s when I stopped buying from one particular brand –which one it was I drank, I don’t even remember. Back then, 15 years ago, there wasn’t much out there; Guinness, Corona, Heineken and Black Label were as fancy as beer got. Anything out of the Bud, Coors, Labatt Blue or Molson Ex spectrum was probably an imported beer. As far as I remember, local breweries adding a fruit flavor to their beer had not been done, until St-Ambroise’s Apricot Wheat Ale; that’s how I remember it anyways.

I tried it and enjoyed it very much. Ah, innocence is bliss (I know we usually say ignorance is bliss but I don’t feel like calling myself ignorant, forgive me). I had never tasted a beer that was out of the ordinary like this yet today almost every microbrewer (and macro) touch on fruit flavors or many other flavors such as crème brulee, banana bread, bacon, you name it. As far as I’m concerned, it started with St-Ambroise’s Apricot Wheat Ale even if Belgians, for example, were doing it way back when.

LOOK: Apricot Wheat Ale poured a slightly orange yellow with lively bubbles that resulted in a half inch head. Retention was somewhat minimal but it left behind beautiful lacing so all was forgotten.

SMELL: Besides a hint of wheat, there weren’t too many typical beer smells such as hops but the apricot did come out quite vividly. There was no mistaking this beer for anything else than an apricot flavored wheat ale.

TASTE: I found the apricot taste was toned down a little more and the wheat was more up front, which is a good thing. The sweetness wasn’t overwhelming and the flavor of apricot well balanced throughout the session.

FINISH: It ends a little dry with a stronger wheat presence.

FEEL: A little watery with good carbonation, this beer is very drinkable and having a repeat immediately after is conceivable whereas other fruit beers may not make you feel like having a second right away.